(Host) Vermont's tourism industry is kicking off its new fall
foliage campaign this week with an unusual promotion.

As
VPR's Bob Kinzel reports, they're sponsoring Lt. Governor Phil Scott's new race
car at a big event in New
Hampshire, to
highlight the fact that Vermont
is open for business this fall.

(Racetrack)

(Kinzel) That's
the sound of Lt. Governor Phil Scott's new race car. He's doing practice laps
at Barre's Thunder
Road to
prepare for an important race this weekend.

The
metallic green car is decorated with a number of Vermont messages. On the hood there's a big sign that says
"We are Vermont Strong," and most members of the state's tourist industry are
represented on the car.

Scott
refrained from racing after tropical storm Irene hit the state and wasn't going
to race at the New Hampshire Speedway in Loudon,
New Hampshire this weekend, but he changed his mind after meeting
with Vermont travel officials.

(Scott) "As I reflected, I thought maybe we should
- as other people are doing throughout the state - maybe we should make
lemonade out of lemons and see what we can do about promoting the state...For
some people we're in recovery but other sectors in Vermont that weren't
affected are certainly ready, willing and able to take those tourism folks and
showcase Vermont."

(Kinzel)
Scott thinks his car will draw a lot of attention at this NASCAR event and help
promote Vermont tourism.

(Scott) "They enjoy a broad viewership and also
there's 100,000 people that are going to be coming to the track itself this
coming weekend, so with the Boston market - which is important to us as well -
we need to send the message that we're here and we're strong."

(Kinzel)
Scott says the track at Thunder Road and the one in New Hampshire are totally different. The Barre facility is a quarter mile track - the
New Hampshire Speedway is a mile and he says this sets up some very different dynamics.

(Scott) "You'd be racing four a breast down
there at New Hampshire at speeds of up to 150 miles an hour and here at Thunder
Road you might do 80, 85. So it's not twice the speed but close to it and when
things happen they happen fairly quick so you have to be on your toes, and I
raced there before so it's not totally foreign to me."

(Kinzel)
Scott is trying to squeeze in some additional practice time before this
weekend's race. He says he's trying to keep his expectations in check but he
also says that he's a very competitive driver and that he hopes to make a
strong showing at this event.